The United States is stepping up its attacks on the Russian electricity grid, but Trump may be in the dark.

Washington is stepping up its campaign to install malware in the Russian power grid, illustrating how the administration is becoming increasingly aggressive in the face of escalating cyber war between the two countries. In a bombshell report released Saturday afternoon, the New York Times reveals that the United States is stepping up its digital attacks against the Russian power grid. This decision is seen as a warning to President Vladimir Putin and a preparation effort to be ready to conduct a major cyber-strike if a conflict broke out.

The increased incursion into the Russian electricity grid is part of the broader response to Moscow's efforts to influence the outcome of the 2018 mid-term elections and comes after many members of the administration have called for more action. aggressive despite the "risk of escalating daily digital cold". War between Washington and Moscow. And officials say the difference is noticeable. "The situation has become much more aggressive over the past year," said a senior intelligence officer at the Times. "We are doing things on a scale that we had never considered a few years ago."

Although the United States has been digging into the Russian power grid for years, it is now taking a more offensive stance and installing malware "to a depth and aggressiveness never before attempted." This follows from the decision to give to the United States. Cyber ​​Command has more leeway to conduct offensive activities without the approval of the president. For the moment, it seems that President Donald Trump is not kept informed. Two officials told The Times that they thought the Commander-in-Chief had not received detailed information about this effort. The Pentagon and intelligence officials are reluctant to reveal too much of the details of the program to Trump, as they fear how he might react or that he might even talk to foreign officials.